Art of cracking petroleum hydrocarbons.



Ls. cosnEN @L 1. WQGO'AST, JR. ART OF CRACKING PETROLEUM IHYDROCARBONS.

APPLICATION FILED D'EC.`26 1916.

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JOSHUA S, COsnEN AND JOHN w. COAST, JR., or TULSA, OKLAHOMA, ASSIGNORS, EY DIRECT AND ivIEsNE ASSIGNMENTS, To THE PROCESS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OE MARYLAND.

ART OF CRACKING PETROLEUM HYDROCARBONS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

`lllatenuteclil Apr. 2919183..

To all 'whom it may concern:

Beit known that we, Josu-UA S. CosnEN and JOHN W. COAST, Jr., citizens of the United States of America, residents of Tulsa,-in the county of Tulsa, State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Art of Cracking Petroleum Hydrocarbons, of which the following is a full, clear, land exact description, re erence being .had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification... v

VOur invention relates to improvements in the art of cracking high boiling I,petroleum hydrocarbons to obtain a cracked product adapted for use as a motor spirit. The product eventually Obtained is known as cracked gasolene, or a substitute for gaso- One of the. objects of the invention is to provide an economical method of producing a vhighly desirable low boiling product of this kind.

More specifically stated, an object of the invention is to utilize the hot vapors resulting from one cracking operation to heat and crank another hydrocarbon fluid. To aclcoinplish this, the vapors iowing from a primary cracking chamber are preferably superheated and introduced into a supplenatur mental cracking chamber, and a nely divided hydrocarbon iuid is then forced into the superheated vapors. As a consequence, the finely divided hydrocarbon fluid is cracked and, being relatively cool,'it also serves as a primary condenser for the previously vaporized high boiling 4hydrocarbons. The high boiling condensate resulting from this operation is preferably congucted back to the primary cracking cham'- y.Another object is to increase the yield and improvethe product by introducing natural gas into the -hot vapors passing from the primary Cracking chamber, and with thisl object in view,.we preferably use lthe natural gas in superheating the vapors flowing from tlhe primary crackin chamber.. The

a gas may be heate to a very 'high temperature, for example 900 F., and then forced into the hot vapors, thereby -superheating the vapors to such a degree that the hot fluid may be used as the heating medium for the second cracking operation.

'The natural gas is 4forced into the hot vapors at a point where the vapors are confined under a high pressure, preferably greater than 50 vpounds per square inch, and it is evident that the hot gas unites with, or is absorbed by the hot petroleum hydrocarbon vapors in such a manner as to materially increase the yield, at the same time beneficially altering the properties of the` hydrocarbon fluid. Before reaching the main condenser, the hot mixture is preferably conducted, under pressure, through a steam chamber where it commingles with a spray of relatively cool steam. Thiscauses some of the' high boiling hydrocarbons to condense, and the properties of the product are further improved by the action of the steam. We are unable at this time to ac'- curately explain the precise action which takes place when the steam is introduced into the compressed hydrocarbon mixture, but it appears that some of the constituents of the steam unite with the hydrocarbons so as to form part of the low boiling product. The steam also eliminates a large percentage of the'carbon and other objectionable elements that are usually removed by treating the product with sulfuric acid.

The ordinary well known method of cracking petroleumhydrocarbons consists in subjecting the hydrocarbons, while under pressure, to a high degree of heat, thereafter conducting the vapors to a primary reux condenser-where the relatively heavy 'hydrocarbons are condensed and prevented from passing. to the main condenser. The ordinary primary condenser .also has the important function of lowering the temperature of the li ht'hydrocarbon vapors before they reach t e` main condenser. All of these functions are performed by the supplemental cracking chamber and steam chambers to which we havepreviously referred, the elements associated with these 'chambers Serving to' econoimze 1n the use y 1,261,215 a i of fuel, to very materially improve'the product, to increase theyield, and also to con 32 may be opened to place the branch pipes dense the high" boiling hydrocarbons.

To set lforth a preferred form of the invention, we have herein described a specific combination of elements and a method including a precise combination of steps which follow each other in a particular sequence, but it is to be understood that the invention comprehends modiiications and variations within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

The drawing is a diagrammatical view of an apparatus adapted for use in carrying out the-new method.

To illustrate the invention we have shown a retort or primary cracking chamber l arranged over a heating chamber 2, a vapor pipe 3 leading from. ythe primary cracking chamber 1 to a supplemental cracking chamber 4, a vapor pipe 5 connecting the upper portion of said supplemental cracking chamber to a steam chamber 6, a vapor pipe 7 connecting the upper portion of steam chamber 6 to the lower portion of a steam chamber 8, a vapor pipe 9 leading from the upper portion of steam chamber 8 to a main condenser 10, and a pipe 11 for conducting the low boiling condensate from condenser 10 to a tank 12.

A discharge member 13, arranged in the upper portion of the supplemental cracking chamber 4, is adapted to discharge a nely divided liquid hydrocarbon into the hot vapors. A pump 14 may be operated to force a high boiling hydrocarbon liquid, through a conductor 15, to the discharge member 13. 16 designates a regulating valve in the conductor 15.

A main steam pipe 17 is rovided with branches 18 and 19 for con ucting steam into the steam chambers 6 and 8 respectively. Each of the branch pipes 18 and 19 has'a discharge member 20 at its lower end, adapted to discharge a spray of steam into the vapors. Regulating valves 21 may be adjusted to regulate the ow of steam to the steam chambers.

Natural gas passin from a gas compressor 22, is preferably orced `through a superheater 23 and thence into a pipe 24 leading to the insulated vapor pipe 3. 24 designates a regulating valve in the gas pipe 24.

The condensate forming in the chambers 4, '6 and 8 may be returned to the main crackmgchamber 1, or it may be conducted to a coolingl coil 25 having a discharge pipe 26 vfor con ucting the liquid to a tank 27. Discharge pipes 28 extending downwardly from the 4bottoms of the chambers 4, 6

g and 8 are connected to branch pipe 29 adapted to. communicate with -a return pipe 30 which leads to the main cracking chamber .Il-These branchppes 29 are also adapted to communicate with a pipe 31 connected to the cooling` coil 25. -Valves in communication with the return pipe 30, or if desired the valves 32 may be closed and the valves 33 opened to allow the condensate 70 to flow to the cooling coil 25.

A pressure regulating valve 34 in the vapor pipe 9 may be adjusted to maintain any desired pressure in the steam chambers 8 and 6, supplemental cracking chamber 4 7.5

and main cracking chamber 1. A regulating valve 35, in the pipe 31, is also adjusted to maintain the desired pressure whenthe condensate is permitted to flow to the coil 25.

`Although we have shown and described 'a 8o in cracking inexpensive heavy hydrocarbons having a boiling point of about 450 F. to 700 F. The substances to be treated may be introduced into the main cracking chamber 1 in any suitable manner, and the valve 34 located beyond the steam chamber 8 may 95 be adjusted to maintain the desired pressure in the steam chambers and crackling chambers. This pressure is greater than 50 pounds per square inch, preferably about 75 t0 80 pounds per square inch.

To more clearly explain the invention, the approximate temperatures Iat various parts of the apparatus have been marked on the drawings, but it isto be clearly understood that these gures are not essentially accurate, the main object being to show that the temperature of the vapors is increased and decreased at different points in the appa ratus.

The vapors flowing in the vapor pipe are superheated by the natural vgas Howing from the heater 23 to said vapor pipe, and the hot mixture is then conducted into the supplemental cracking chamber 4. Thefnatural gas under pressure-and Aat a hightemperav ture, for example, 900 F., commingles with the confined vapors, so as to increase theY yield, at thesame time increasing the temperature of the vapors to such a degree (for example 800 F.) that the mixture serves Aas 120 a heating medium for cracking the high boiling hydrocarbon fluid passing from the discharge member 13 in the supplemental cracking chamber. The finely divided uid discharged into this chamber is preferably a high boiling product resulting from the distillation of'crude petroleum. lf desired, it may be' preheated, but it is preferably in a liquid state and at about the temperature of the atmosphere. This high boiling fluid is vaporized and cracked while confined under pressure in the supplemental cracking chamber, and being relatively cool, it serves as means for condensing previously vaporized high boiling fractions.

Another advantage is the elimination of coke or carbon by the action of the relatively cool liquid in the supplemental cracking chamber. A large percentage of the carbon or coke carried by the vapors, drops into a trap formed at the bottom of the supplemental cracking chamber, and the high boiling condensate overflowing into the discharge pipe 28 is preferably conducted back to the primary cracking chamber.

The hot fluid passing from the upper portion of the supplemental cracking chamber is conducted into the steam chamber 6 where it is acted upon by a spray of relatively cool steam which commingles with the mixturev of natural gas and hydrocarbon vapors. The saturated steam is super-heated by the hot Huid in the steam chamber 6 and the new mixture passes out through the vapor pipe 7 and into the steam chamber 8 where it is subjected to a second treatment by a spray of relatively cool steam. To obtain the most desirable results, we preferablyuse two or Y more steam chambers, and it will be observed that such chambers serve as condensers for knocking back the high boiling hydrocarbons. Sincethe supplemental*crackingchamber and steam chambers constitute a series of reflux condensers, the high boiling liquid may be vaporized very rapidly in the main cracking chamber 1. The heavy hydrocarbons carried from the main cracking chamber will be condensed in the reflux condensers, and the desired low boiling hydrocarbons will pass through the pressure regulating valve 34 to the main condenser 10. The contents of this condenser are preferably maintained under the normal atmospheric pressure.

j The apparatus herein shown is claimed in an application for patent filed by us lDec.

26, 1916, Serial Number 138,997.

We claim 1. In the art of treating high boiling petroleum hydrocarbons to obtain a substitute for gasolene, the method which comprises cracking and vaporizing such hydrocarbons, heating a fluid to a temperature higher than the temperature of the hydrocarbon vapors, mixing said'iiuid with said vapors so as to superheat the vapors, introducing a relatively cool hydrocarbon fluid into the hot mixture, thereby cracking said hydrocarbon fluid, and conducting vapors from the last mentioned iuid to a condenser.

2.' Inthe art of treating high boiling pecracking and vaporizing such hydrocarbons, t5

from the last mentioned fluid to a condenser.

3. In the art of treating high boiling petroleum hydrocarbons to obtain a substitute for gasolene, the method which comprises cracking and vaporizing such hydrocarbons,

confining the vapors under a pressure greater than 50 pounds per square inch, heating natural gas to a temperature higher than the con-fined vapors, forcing the hot natural gas into the conned vapors so as to superheat the vapors, forcinga relatively cool high e@ boiling hydrocarbon fluid into the hot mixture, thereby cracking the last mentioned hydrocarbon fluid, and conducting the vapors to a condenser.

4. In the art of treating high boiling hydrocarbons to obtain a` substitute for gasolene, the method which comprises cracking such hydrocarbons, introducing a relatively cool hydrocarbon fluid into the hot vapors resulting from the cracking operation, thereby cracking said hydrocarbon fluid, conducting the vapors from said hydrocarbon fluid., then introducing steam into the vapors, and conducting the resultant mixture of steam and hydrocarbon vapors to a condenser.

5. In the art of treating high boiling hydrocarbons to obtain a substitute for gasolene, the method which'comprises cracking such hydrocarbons, confining the resultant vapors under a pressure greater than 50 pounds per square inch, forcing a finely divided and relatively cool hydrocarbon fluid into the confined vapors, thereby cracking said hydrocarbon fluid, thereafter introducing steam into the vapors flowing from said 105 hydrocarbon fluid while said vapors are confined under pressure, and conducting the mixture of steam and hydrocarbon vapors to a condenser.

e. In the ari of treating high boiling pe- 11a hot fluid into the resultant vapors 'sol as to 115 superheat said vapors, forcing the hot mixture into a supplemental cracking chamber, at the same time forcing a vrelatively cool hydrocarbon fluid into the hot mixture, con,A ducting vapors from said supplemental 120 cracking chamber, then introducing `steam into said vapors, and conducting the steam and hydrocarbon vapors to a condenser. l

7 In .the art of treating high boiling petroleum hydrocarbons to obtaln a substitute 125 I' for gasolene, the method which 4.comprises cracking such hydrocarbonswin a -primary cracking chamber, lntroducing a relatively Vhat' mid intoihe 'resultant .,T'faporsV si; asftd! superheat said.vapors, forcin `the ht miX-` AQture into a supplemental crac ;'ng chamber,

at the same time forclng va' relatively cool v i5 hydrocarbon Huid into the hot mixture, conducting vapors from' said supplemental. cracking chamber, then introducing steam f V chamber.`

cracking-chamber 't saidprimary cracking a JOSHUA S. COSDEN. JOHN W. COAST, JR. 

